Daily News Archive
Brought to you by Home Furnishings Business
March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized 
By Home Furnishings Business in High Point on March 23, 2011
The American Furniture Hall of Fame Foundation has published four new oral histories furniture industry leaders.
Now available for sale are the oral histories of J. Wade Kincaid, Steven M. Kincaid, Joanna C. Maitland and Edwin J. Shoemaker. The hard cover books include family and company photos.
Twelve of the 40-book set have now been published. Those released last Fall include John C. Bernhardt, Alvin E. Bland, Rose G. Blumkin, Bob Bush Sr., O. William Fenn, Rawson Haverty Sr., Clyde Hooker Jr. and Don A. Hunziker.
"Our oral history program is one of the most important services that the Foundation provides," said Foundation President Jeff Cook. "There is nothing more important to our future generations that capturing the stories and history through the eyes of our leaders through oral interviews and photography. These published works permanently record their memories forever and through the website will be accessible for generations to come."
In 2008, the Hall of Fame Foundation received a grant from the Furniture Foundation to digitize the transcripts and tapes of 33 previously recorded oral interviews that were in danger of being lost. These interviews, along with seven additional new oral histories, are available for purchase through the Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library or online. Individual copies cost $25 each or a complete set of 40 can be purchased for $1,000 (not including shipping and handling).
The 28 additional oral histories that will soon be available include: Nathan S. Ancell, Doug Brackett, E. L. Briggs, Paul H. Broyhill, David J. Brunn, Dan Edmonson, Bert Roy Fenn, John R. Gerken, Charles O. Gordon, Mary McKenzie Henkel, W.G. Holliman Jr., Leo Jiranek, William P. Kemp Sr., Bernard B. Lane, Hyman Meyers, Steve Millender, Patrick H. Norton, Steve Pond, Joe Richardson II, Lawrence K. Schnadig, Irving Sherman, Harley Ferguson Shuford Jr., Charles R. Sligh Jr., Robert H. Spilman, John B. Vaughan, Howard O. Walker, Ronald G. Wanek, and Elliott S. Wood.
The Foundation continues to grow its oral history program and is accepting recommendations for other industry leaders whose stories need to be captured. To send suggestions or receive more information, contact Lauren Estep.
March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Community/Charitable Support on March 23, 2011
In response to the devastation in Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, bedding industry non-profit WorldBed will provide donated emergency beds.
In partnership with WorldBed, non-profit disaster relief organization Hope Force International and Giving Children Hope will distribute the water-resistant, cot-sized WorldBeds to temporary shelters, medical facilities and other places where beds are needed. It is estimated that nearly 500,000 people have been displaced from their homes.
"Members of the industry are seeking a way to give substantial help to the survivors, and WorldBed will provide direct relief to those who are without a place to sleep," said WorldBed Executive Director Laura Castro. "Rest and sleep are essential for the health and recovery of people hit by this kind of catastrophe."
Specialty sleep retailer Ergo Customized Comfort and Relax the Back were the first major donors to step up to make a donation of an entire pallet of WorldBeds each, totaling 100 WorldBeds. Ashley Furniture Homestores of Kearney and Grand Island, Neb., will match donations of WorldBed plus give a $38 gift card, equal to the donation cost of the WorldBed, to every customer who donates a WorldBed. IntoBedWeGo will donate a WorldBed for each bed they sell.
"We are grateful to WorldBed for providing this channel for us to give comfort and care to the survivors in their grave time of need," said Michael Nermon, owner and founder of Ergo Customized Comfort. "We hope it will give victims strength and hope to have a bed to sleep on as they pick up the pieces of their lives."
The donated beds are scheduled for pick up next week and have received approval from international authorities to accept the delivery in Japan. According to responders on the ground in Sendai, the hardest hit region, WorldBeds are high on the list for priority delivery. Already WorldBeds in Japan are being used by relief workers.
WorldBed has created a special fund in which all donations will be dedicated to the Japan relief effort. WorldBed also will accept donations at High Point Market Week, April 2-7, at the Specialty Sleep Association exhibit space, IHFC, M413. Click here to donate to WorldBed or to learn more.
March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Markets on March 23, 2011
Luxury home furnishings vendor Theodore Alexander will debut at Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan, Italy, April 12-17 in the Pavilion I-M15 N10.
"The Milan Furniture Fair is one of the most prestigious fairs in the world," said Harvey Dondero, CEO of Theodore Alexander. "We see this as a tremendous opportunity to introduce our highly original innovative designs and hand-crafted home furnishings to a wide range of international buyers and design professionals."
The Theodore Alexander Milan space will feature a selection of best-selling, iconic pieces that display the breadth and depth of Theodore Alexander's expertise and fine craftsmanship. New items also will be incorporated into the space, which will have bedroom, dining, home accents and lighting from Theodore Alexander as well as its branded Althorp Living History and Keno Bros. collections.
"While Theodore Alexander has a significant presence outside of North America, this show will help us greatly expand our efforts as we reach out to additional distributors, retailers, and trade customers," said David Parker, vice president of international sales. "Additionally, it offers an opportunity for us to strengthen our existing relationships with international accounts that attend the Salone Internazionale del Mobile in Milan."
March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Mattresses on March 23, 2011
Natural and organic bedding vendor Natura World has created a turnkey warranty support program for independent retailers.
With the program, Cambridge, Ontario-based Natura World takes responsibility for the process from the first call through repair or replacement of product, if necessary.
Retailers participating in the program can give customers a toll-free number that they can call for warranty-related matters. A specially trained group of Natura World customer service representatives fields these calls and can handle a range of services from questions about the products customers have purchased, the scheduling of home inspections, and any product repair or replacement.
"We believe this program solves a common problem smaller retailers have," said Natura World President Ralph Rossdeutscher. "They must dedicate so much of their time to sales to generate revenue, yet they also want to be helpful to their customer with warranty issues. The problem is that there are so many hours in a day, and usually sales needs to take priority. With our program they can now rest assured that their customers needs are being handled in a responsive, caring and professional manner by Natura, leaving them the time to focus on more income producing areas of their business."
The company beta tested the new warranty program with a small group of retailers late last year in Canada to refine the offering before being rolled out more broadly.
"The core of our business has always been the smaller retailer," Rossdeutscher said. "It is where we began and they remain an important part of our dealer base today as well. The response we have gotten is tremendous as our dealers see the warranty support program as a real value added service our company provides for them."
March 22,
2011 by in UnCategorized
By Home Furnishings Business in Case Goods on March 23, 2011
Case goods furniture manufacturer Linwood Furniture will unveil a new branding focus in its High Point Furniture Market showroom, Market Square 307.
When buyers walk into the Linwood showroom, they will step back in time to furniture made in America. The sights, sounds and smells of the factory will serve as a faint backdrop to the introduction of beautiful, thoroughly modern product vignettes.
"The heart of Linwood Furniture is our family of artisans. These are highly skilled craftsmen who take great pride in their work," said Mike Mebane, CEO of Linwood, Linwood, N.C. "We want buyers to smell the sawdust and hear the sounds of the factory. We want them to see buggies of furniture in various stages of production as a reminder that we see a future for solid North American hardwood furniture made right, made here."
The new branding brings a renewed focus on authenticity, a passion for handwork and furniture made in small batches. It highlights the ability to offer greater customization (including 500 finishes in the Kaleidoscope program) at a fair price with fast, dependable deliveries.
"When everyone was moving off shore, Linwood Furniture said, 'No, we are staying here. This is where premium quality furniture started. This is where the craftsmanship and expertise spans the generations,'" Mebane said. "We are committed to manufacturing furniture in North Carolina for our customers. Linwood Furniture represents real American beauty."
Thus, the new branding is simple and direct, using a contemporary typeface in black and prominently noting with a stylized outline of the state, that its furniture is made in North Carolina with the new tagline, "Real American Beauty."
"Linwood is focused on returning to handcrafted furniture made in small batches at a fair price with greater customization and fast dependable deliveries," said Jeff Schwall, Linwood executive vice president of sales and marketing. "This is authentic furniture with personal attention to the details. Every piece of furniture is handcrafted with loving care."